ARC: add optional x= tag to signing

[users/jgh/exim.git] / doc / doc-txt / experimental-spec.txt

diff --git a/doc/doc-txt/experimental-spec.txt b/doc/doc-txt/experimental-spec.txt
index bc5bab77d4ab7aa715d2feee2789bbc9e1d50b93..b981f3b7a439225668971cfeb3f34a2c669bbca2 100644 (file)
--- a/doc/doc-txt/experimental-spec.txt
+++ b/doc/doc-txt/experimental-spec.txt
@@ -798,13 +798,44 @@ Receive log lines for an ARC pass will be tagged "ARC".
 
 Signing
 --
-arc_sign = <admd-identifier> : <selector> : <privkey>
+arc_sign = <admd-identifier> : <selector> : <privkey> [ : <options> ]
 An option on the smtp transport, which constructs and prepends to the message
 an ARC set of headers.  The textually-first Authentication-Results: header
 is used as a basis (you must have added one on entry to the ADMD).
 Expanded as a whole; if unset, empty or forced-failure then no signing is done.
 If it is set, all three elements must be non-empty.
 
+The fourth element is optional, and if present consists of a comma-separated list
+of options.  The options implemented are
+
+  timestamps           Add a t= tag to the generated AMS and AS headers, with the
+                       current time.
+  expire[=<val>]       Add an x= tag to the generated AMS header, with an expiry time.
+                       If the value <val> is an plain number it is used unchanged.
+                       If it starts with a '+' then the following number is added
+                       to the current time, as an offset in seconds.
+                       If a value is not given it defaults to a one month offset.
+
+[As of writing, gmail insist that a t= tag on the AS is mandatory]
+
+Caveats:
+ * There must be an Authentication-Results header, presumably added by an ACL
+   while receiving the message, for the same ADMD, for arc_sign to succeed.
+   This requires careful coordination between inbound and outbound logic.
+ * If passing a message to another system, such as a mailing-list manager
+   (MLM), between receipt and sending, be wary of manipulations to headers made
+   by the MLM.
+   + For instance, Mailman with REMOVE_DKIM_HEADERS==3 might improve
+     deliverability in a pre-ARC world, but that option also renames the
+     Authentication-Results header, which breaks signing.
+ * Even if you use multiple DKIM keys for different domains, the ARC concept
+   should try to stick to one ADMD, so pick a primary domain and use that for
+   AR headers and outbound signing.
+
+Signing is not compatible with cutthrough delivery; any (before expansion)
+value set for the option will result in cutthrough delivery not being
+used via the transport in question.
+
 
 
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